Mythbusters: Degree = Job

If you’ve ever been a college freshman, you probably know
the pressure of declaring a major. After all, this is what you’re going to
spend the next four (or five, or six) years studying, and the following
forty-plus practicing professionally… right?

Well, not always.

For first-year students, foreseeing the next four years is
like trying to look down the road through a thick fog. You have a fuzzy idea of
where you’re headed, but the figures and shapes ahead of you are hazy, and the
path is uncertain. Squinting through the murkiness of impending self-discovery,
how can a student know if the path they are travelling is the right path for
them?

Many college students don’t realize their path is wrong
until they’re halfway (or farther along) to the finish line. Panicking, they
visit academic advisors and career counselors, desperate to find “right” path.
Many of them discover there could be several paths that could be right for
them. Again, the pressure of finding their niche overtakes them, and they feel
the familiar burden of an uncertain future.

Take heart, college students, because I’m about to reveal
one of the biggest secrets of college:

YOUR MAJOR DOES NOT HAVE TO DETERMINE YOUR CAREER.

There are several exceptions to be made, of course. If
you’re pursuing a degree in a communications discipline, you probably will not
be equipped for medical school or to be an engineer. But who knows? Maybe
you’ve taught yourself programming on the side and you have an impressive
portfolio to show off. Or maybe you’re the biomedical sciences major who
realizes the summer before your senior year that you can’t handle blood, but
you love to work with doctors.

Take it from someone who’s been there: there are ways to
make it work.

Here are three practical steps to get closer to a career that
works for you, regardless of your major:

1. Embark on
a journey of self-discovery. You cannot--and should not--choose your career
until you know yourself. What makes you YOU? What makes you tick? Inspires you?
Grosses you out? Do you like talking to people or making machines work? These
are all the kinds of questions you should be asking yourself, because their
answers lead you closer to the kinds of careers and work environments that work
for you. For a more guided self-discovery
journey, visit the Career Center and ask about the career assessments available!

2. Gain
experience. Whether or not you’ve decided what direction you want to go,
get your feet wet with shadowing, volunteering, internships, research and
involvement in student organizations. Simply knowing what kinds of tasks and
ideas you like to work on can reveal insight into what you may enjoy
professionally. If it’s too late for this, consider researching graduate
schools or certifications more focused on your desired career. As a bonus, this
all becomes relevant information to include in job applications down the road!

3. Market
yourself effectively. If you find yourself near graduation with an
unrelated major, think outside the box about what makes you suitable for the
kind of job you want. If you’re graduating with a degree in sociology, but you
want to become a social media manager, think about your own experience with
communication. Did you learn about group behaviors, manage your own social
media image or work on a team to complete a task? All of these skills are
important in your desired field, so show them off on your resume!

After you have done all this, fret not: the path to success
is not a straight arrow. You don’t have to make the right major decision the
first time, but by getting to know yourself, gaining practical, applicable
experience and marketing yourself effectively, you are taking steps closer to
the work you were made to do.

Written by Sarah Russell

Graduate Assistant working on a MEd in Higher Education Administration

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Who are we?

The Auburn University Career Center delivers comprehensive services for students to explore majors, network with employers and professionals, prepare for advanced education, and successfully transition from college to career.